Dear Friends,
We have received our instructions from the Archbishops. For reasons of safety, there are to be no public services or meetings in church until further notice. A regular pattern of worship will be maintained by the clergy including The Eucharist. The clergy and laity will also continue to say Morning, Midday and Evening Prayer. St Saviour’s, St Petrox and St George’s, Dittisham will be open daily for people to visit for prayer and reflection. If you need pastoral support please get in touch via email, the church Facebook page or if you prefer by phone via the Benefice office. Fr Will, Fr Andrew and Fr Bob are all available if you need us. The weekly pew sheet will continue to be available with other resources at the back of church and on our website. If you become ill and/or have to self-isolate, please let us know. If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to ask.
Also, the Archbishops invite everyone this coming Sunday, Mothering Sunday, to join in prayer at home for the country, for the world, for everyone anxious or sick at this time. We are also asked to place a lit candle in a window at 7pm on that day. I hope all people of goodwill, regardless of faith, or none, will want to join in this.
Your parish churches have served the communities of Dartmouth and Dittisham for over seven hundred years. We have done so through the Black Death, plagues, smallpox, Spanish Flu and now coronavirus. It’s what we do, because we are built on rock and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew16:17).
As the people of God we are the Church, the body of Christ and we still have the task of supporting our communities, praying for God’s grace and setting an example to the world of how to live responsibly during this present crisis. We believe in life and life in all its fullness, we are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit who equips ordinary men and women to be and do extraordinary things for God.
We are hoping to stream an act of worship at 11am on Sunday, as we seek to be Church in a new way. You should be able to access this through our facebook page or through the news page of our website.
Courage, hope, love, peace, prayers and blessings to all.
Fr Will
www.parishofdartmouth.co.uk